Safety razor



y 1933- w. F. .STEINMETZ ET AL ,7

SAFETY RAZOR Filed May 21, 1935 s. Sheets-Sheet 5 for shaving purposes.

Patent ed May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES SAFETY RAZOR William F. Steinmetz, New York, and so! child, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 21, 1935, Serial No. 22,520

19 Claims.

This invention relates in general to safety razors and more particularly to improvements in safety razor blades and blade holder's.

In our Patent No. 2,053,642, we have disclosed a safety razor blade that issufliciently flexible to be clamped, without fracture, in such positions as to provide effective straight and curved shaving edges both of which types of edges may be used The material, or the temper, of the body portion of the blade was described as differing from that of the cutting edge, in order that the cutting edge be eflicient and the blade as a whole be capable of withstanding the bending strain imposed upon it when clamped in.

the position necessary to provide straight and curved shaving edges that would be available'for the normal shaving of a flat surface.

shaving purposes.

Generally speaking, the desired shaving edge is one that is substantially straight or flat, the

' ends of which, however, are abruptly downwardly means more simple and inexpensive. 'To this end it is proposed to' provide a. blade having a highly emcient cutting edge and an extremely durable and rugged body portion and pre-form the blade as a whole in the desired shape. The blade, thus formed, when put in a holder, the blade seat, guard and clamp cover of which are correspondingly formed to receive such a pro-formed blade, is merely clamped in the desired position without distortion of the blade as a result of such clamping, whether the blade is pre-formed with a substantially flat shaving edge with downwardly abrupt turned cutting ends or pre-formed with transverse curvature or longitudinal curvature or any combination thereof. The necessity of flexibility is thus dispensed with and the element of undue clamping strain on the blade is likewise dispensed with in the obtaining of the effective straight and curved usable shaving edges. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a simple rugged razor blade pre-formed with usable straight and curved cutting edges.

Another object is to provide such a blade that will be adapted for use in a safety razor whether Rothsthe latter be of the single blade holder or of the magazine type.

Another object is to provide such a. blade I whether it be of the single or double cutting edge type or whether the blade be of the continuous type, single blade or linked blade type.

Another object is to provide an improved razor, bladev seat, blade guard, and clamping means'for carrying such blades .and maintaining the same in their pre-formed condition for availing the straight and curved cutting edges for shaving purtain embodiments thereof being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a, view in front elevation of one form of our safety razor employing a single edge razor blade.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section taken through the razor of, the type shown in Figure 1 showing in full lines the blade seat in shaving position for shaving purposes, and in dotted lines the blade seat removed from clamped position.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of that shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 with aslightly modified form of manual clamping arrangement. 1

Figure 5 is a view in top plan with the blade clamp removed, showing the guard employed for the single edge razor blade.

Figure 6 is a view in top plan of a single blade, single cutting edge razor blade, pre-formed substantially flat with downwardly curved cutting edges.

Figure '7 is a view inside elevation of that shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in top plan of a double edge blade for use in a razor having a single guard. 1

Figure 9 is a view in front elevation of another form of our razor employing a double .edge razor blade showing in full lines the blade in clamped position and in dotted linesthe cover in unclamped position.

Figure 10 is a view in section taken along line Ill-i0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view in section taken along line lI--ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view in vertical section taken through the razor shown in Figure 9 at right angles to the section shown in Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a view in section taken along line l3|3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view in front elevation of a double edge razor blade pre-formed in the shape illustrated. 1

Figure '15 is a top plan view of that shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken through a modified form of razor employing a convexly curved blade seat and correspondingly pre-formed curved blade and blade cover.

Figure 17 is a side view of a blade pre-formed with a transverse curvature to fit the razor shown in Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a view in front elevation of a mag-. azine type of safety razor.-

Figure. 19 is a view in section taken along-line l9--l9 of Figure 18. I

Figure 20 is a view insection taken along line 2020 of Figure 18, showing the blade in clamping position. x

Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure..20 showing a blade being taken from the magazine and showing by dotted lines the position ofgthe blade seat when ejecting a blade.

Referring more particularly to the drawings.

it is to be understood at the outset thatazthezprinand magazine type and whether either or both types employ single or double edge blades of either the pre-formed transversely or longitudinally curved blade.

Accordingly we have shown in Figures 6 and 7 a single edge safety razor blade of the preferred type having a main body portion l and a longitudinally extending cutting edge 2. As shown in Figure 7, both the body portion and the cutting edge are pre-formed with downwardly curved ends 3 and 4 in contrast to the intervening substantially straight portion.

In Figure 8 we show substantially the same type of blade, for use in such single blade types of razors as described, having a main body portion 30 and longitudinally extending. cutting edges 3| and 32. a

In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 we have shown suitable single blade types of razors for employing blades of the types shown in Figures 6, 7 and.8. For instance in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the razor includes a blade seat with downwardlycurved ends 6 and 1 appropriate to receive the blade I with its curved ends 3 and A. Likewise the clamping cover 8, attached-to and made part of the handle, is correspondingly formed with downwardly curved ends 9 and I0. Also .the'flat and curved portions of the razor blade,,held on its flat and curved seat by the correspondingly flat and curved clamp cover, is providedfwith a guard comprising a series of teeth'l l. theouter ones 2 of which have their surfaces curved as shown in Figures 1 and 5 for guarding the shaving edge of the blade throughout its flat and curved portions.

The razor of this type also includes positioning studs I 4 and 15 formed in the blade seat to engage the apertures l6 and I1 respectively of the blade. In addition to this positioning means there may also be provided an aperture I8 in the blade to be engaged by the inclined stud 19 carried by the clamp cover. In the case of the double edge blade a like set of apertures may be arranged to engage the positioning studs l4, l5 and is to function with the cutting edge in use. The user may use one edge and then turn the blade around and use the other.

The handle I3 is counterbored to receive 9. iongitudinally movable shank 20 provided with a flange 2| to engage the upper and lower limits of the enlarged hollow portion 22 of the handle, and another-- flange 2|. upon which the blade seat 5 is moveably seated. A countersunk portion is provided in the seat to accommodate a set screw 21' which set screw is screwed in the shank 20 and has a flanged head the size of the shank flange 2|. By this construction the shank 20 is made to berotatable within the blade seat 5. A

compression spring23 urges the shank upwardly by ;eng agi ng the flange 2|, thus providing a clampingaction on .the blade when pressed against.the clamp '8, the clamp 8 being part of thestationary portion of the handle 24. The upperport ionfl of the razor is screw threaded at 25 to the handle I3. On the lower portion of the shank'20 are, provided two guide pins 61 and 68, Figures 2 and 3, which engage in the guide grooves 69 and 10 respectively in the lower hollow portion of the handle l3. The extreme lower portion of the handle 13 is formed by a nut 26 screw threaded to receive the screw threaded portion 21 of the shank 20, so that when it is drawn against the action of the spring 23 it releases the clamp action on the blade seat and when extended fully it forces the seat and blade to be engaged and clamped in place against the clamp cover. It will be observed that should'the operator desire to lock the blade seat down as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3 he may do so by drawing the shank down until the pins 61 and 68 are on the outside of the lower hollow portion of handle l3 and then by giving the nut 26 a slight twist in either direction the shank 20 rotates and thepins hold the shank against the action of the spring 23. I

The modification shown in Figure 4 differs materially from that form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 in that it employs no spring such as that shown at 23. Instead, the shank 20 is tapered and the hollow portion of the handle I3 is accordingly tapered at 23' to. fit the shank. Also the shank and .handle are appropriately screw threaded at 28 and 29 respectively for engagement.

As previously stated the blade may be double edged as shown for instance in Figure 8 in which the body portion is shown at 30 with two longitudinal cutting edges 3| and 32 and apertures 33 for engagement by blade positioning studs. These blades are likewise preferably pro-formed so as to have a substantially flat portion and also curved body and cutting edge end portions 34 and 35.

One type of. safety razor for carrying and making both cutting edges efl'ective at the same time of such a blade of the type shown in Figure 8 or Figures 14 and 15 is shown in Figures 9 and 13 inclusive. Here the clamp cover 36 is carried by the shank 31 extending longitudinally of and movable in the hollow handle 38, as the shank 20 is movable in the hollow handle as shown in Figures 1 to 4. The handle 38 may be provided with a hollow sleeve 39, screw threaded to receive a bolt 40 for securing the shank to the sleeve 39. As shown in Figures 12 and 13 the shank is tapered at 4| to fit snugly into correspondingly tapered grooves in the handle '38 to maintain a snug fit when the shank is pulled down far enough to cause the clamp cover to firmly clamp the blade on its seat. To release the clamp cover it is merely necessary to push upwardly on the sleeve 39. A blade of the type shown in Figure 15 may then he slipped lengthwise on to the blade seat, the longitudinal open slot 42 thus engaging the shank. The rectangular portion 43 of slot 42 and the rectangular aperture 44 in the blade are -to receive positioning studs that may be carried either by the .clamp cover or blade seat one of which is shown at 45 inIlgure 12. It is to be understood that the slot 42 may take any shape in which case the positioning stud 45 would take a corresponding shape and the separate aperture 44 may be dispensed with if desired. The blade seat 45 is preferably. substantially flat with downwardly'curved ends to conform with the form of the blade shown in Figure 14 to adequately receive the same. The clamp cover is likewise blade shaving edges for shaving purposes in a manner similar to the guard shown in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 17 the blade 48 with either a single or double shaving .edge 49 may be preformed 'so as to' be curved transversely and straight longitudinally or it may be cm'ved transversely and longitudinally to the same extent as shown in Figure 14. To hold such a type o!v transversely curved blade there may be employed a handle 50 and a relatively movable shank 5| carrying a clamp cover 52 in a similar manner to that described in connection with Figures 9, 10 and 11. Here, however, the blade seat 53 and clamp cover are appropriately correspondingly curved to fit the curvature of the blade. In the event that this blade is also curved longitudinally shaving edge 2 of the type shown in Figures 6,

and -I. Here the cover 54 remains stationary and is a part of the stationary portion 55 of the handle. The' handle also includes a movable portion 55, which is pivotally connected by a pin 51 to the stationary portion of the razor. A

vmagazine chamber 58 is provided to receive a plurality of blades in the position shown in Figure 21. A spring operated pawl 59 urges the blades forwardly. When it is desired to advance a blade into shaving position, the handle 54 is drawn down to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 21 and then rotated counterclockwise away from the handle 55. This brings the blade seat 60 away from the cover into the position shown in Figure21. A hollow space BI is provided to allow for this relative movement of the handle portions. The spring operated pawl forces one of the blades against the blade seat. The width 01'. the wall portion 62 of the movable handle 56 is approximately equal to the width of the body portion of the blade. Hence, as the handle 56 is moved back about its pivot toward the stationary handle portion 55, the wall 62 pushes the blade upwardly in As shown in Figure 18 the blade seat 60, cover 54, blade I and guard 66 are preferably substantially straight throughout and longitudinally curved at their ends in accordance with the manner and purpose described in connection with Figures 1 to '7 inclusive.

It is, of course, to be understood that while we have shown several types of razor blade holders particularly. adapted for using blades having a 3b pre-formed curvature, the holders shown and described are equally suitable for'using straight blades not having the pre-formed curved features described in connection with our improved blades.

We claim:--

'1. In a magazine safety razor, a blade seat and a clamp cover, a magazine for carrying a plurality of blades, means for moving said blade seat into a position of alignment with the blades stored in said magazine and with a blade thereon to a position adjacent said cover for clamping said blade between the seat and cover, means for forcing a blade on to said seat when in alignment with the blades in said magazine.

2. In a magazine safety razor, a handle inpart, a clamp cover carried by said stationary handle, said blade seat being carried by said movable handle and movable thereby into a position ofalignment with the blades stored in said magazine and with a bladev thereon to a position adjacent saidcover for clamping said blade between the seat and cover.

3. In a magazine safety razor, a handle including a stationary part and a pivotally movable part, a clamp cover carried by said stationary handle, said blade seat being carried by said movable handle and movable thereby into a positionof alignment with the blades stored in said magazine and with a-blade thereon to a position adjacent said cover for clamping said blade between the seat and cover, resilient means for forcing a blade onto said seat when in alignment with the blades in said magazine.

4. In a magazine safety razor, a handle including a stationary part and a pivotally movable part, a clamp cover carried by said stationary handle, said blade seat being carried by said movable handle and movable thereby into a position of alignment withtlie blades stored in said magazine and with -a blade thereon to a position adjacent said'cover for clamping said blade between the cluding a stationary part and a pivotally movable seatand cover, resilient means for forcing a blade onto said seat when in alignment with the blades in said magazine said movable handle having a wall portionidisposed at the rear side blade seat and elevated with respect to the upper surface thereof to approximately the width of a razor blade for limiting the feeding of but one blade at a time to said seat and for maintaining a predetermined orderly relationship of the remaining blades in said magazine.

5. In a magazine safety razor, a handle includ-. ing a stationary, part and a pivotally movable part, a clamp cover carried by said stationary handle, said blade seat being carried by said movable handle and movable thereby into a position of alignment with the blades stored in said magazine and with a blade thereon to a position adjacent said cover for clamping said blade between the seat and cover said blade seat and cover being substantially straight with downwardly curved ends, each of said blades with their cutting edges pre-formed substantially straight with downwardly curved ends, a blade guard for guarding the straight and curved cutting edges.

6. In a magazine safety razor, a handle including a stationary part and a pivotally movable part, a clamp cover carried by said stationary handle, said blade seat being carried by said movable handle and movable thereby into a posi-- 'tion of alignment with the blades stored in said magazine and with a blade thereon to a position adjacent said cover for clamping said blade between the seat and cover, resilient means for forcing a blade onto said seat when in alignment with the blades in said magazinesaid movable handle having a wall portion disposed at the rear said blade seat and elevated with respect to the upper surface thereof to approximately the width of a razor blade for limiting the feeding of but one blade at a time to said seat and for maintaining a predetermined orderly relationship of the remaining blades in said magazine said blade seat and cover being substantially straight with downwardly cm'ved ends, each of said blades with their cutting edges pre-formed substantially straight with downwardly curved ends, a blade guard for guarding the straight and curved cutting edges.

'7. A safety razor comprising a clamp cover, a blade seat and a guard, means for positively holding a blade on said seat in proper shaving position with relation to said guard, a magazine for separate blades and means including said seat for feeding blades in succession from the magazine to the shaving position in clamping. relation to said clamp cover.

8. A safety razor comprising a clamp cover, a blade seat and a guard, means including stationary positioning studs on said seat for positively holding a blade on said seat in proper shaving position with relation to said guard, said means being independent of said guard, a magazine for separate blades, and means for feeding blades from the magazine to the positive proper shaving position between the guard and the clamp cover.

9. A safety razor comprising a handle with a clamp cover at the top, a blade seat including positive positioning means thereon and a guard, a. magazine for holding a plurality of blades, said magazine being connected to said handle, means for moving said blade seat relative tov said clamp cover and said magazine to positively and successively feed said blades from the magazine to proper shaving position between said guard and the clamp cover.

10. A safety razor comprising a handle with a clamp cover at the top, a blade seat including means for positively positioning the blade with relation to a guard thereon, a magazine for holding a plurality of blades connected with said handle, said magazine being adapted to'swing over said blade seat, said magazine and blade seat having means to positively feed blades from actuated pawl contained in said magazine for ejecting a blade on said seat, and means on said seat for positively retaining said blades in proper shaving relation with relation to said guard thereon when the magazine is swungback to its normal position.

12. A safety razor comprising a handle with a clamp cover at the top, a blade seat including blade positioning means thereon and a guard, a magazine for holding 'a plurality of blades in said handle, said magazine being swingable so that its open side abuts on the blade seat, a spring actuated pawl contained in said magazine for ejecting a blade on said seat, and means on said seat for positively retaining said blade in proper shaving relation with relation to said guard thereon when the magazine is swung back to its normal position and means for clamping theblade between the clamp cover and the blade seat when the magazine is swung into said normal position.

13. A safety razor comprising a clamp cover and a blade seat including a guard] positioning means on said blade seat including positioning studs and an elevated wall portion disposed rearwardly' of said seat for holding a blade in positive shaving relation to said guard to cooperate with said clamp cover to positively retain the blade in shaving relation to the guard independently of said guard, a magazine for separate blades, cooperative means for successively taking blades from the magazine onto said blade seat and engaging the positioning means and taking the blades to the shaving position against said clamp cover.

14. Arsafety razor including a device for holding a blade inshaving position, said device including a clamp cover and a blade seat, a handle, a blade magazine within said handle, and means for advancing a blade sidewise from said magazine onto said blade seat and thence to the shaving position in said holding device.

15. In a safety razor, a magazine and a plurality of separate blades housed therein, a clamp cover, a blade seat and a guard, means for ejecting a blade from said magazine, asingle control means for moving said seat into alignment with said magazine and for simultaneously uncovering the blades in said magazine so that the top blade therein is accessible and is ejected from said magazine onto said seat, said single control means beingadapted to close said magazine, after the blade is ejected therefrom, and to move said seat back to the shaving position with a blade thereon.

16. A safety razor comprising a handle having a magazine connected therewith adapted to hold a stack of blades, said magazine having an opening for the passage of blades, aclamp cover, a blade seat including a guard; said seat being adapted to be swung into alignment with the blades in said magazine so that the entire length and width of said blade seat abuts the opening of said magazine for receiving a blade directly on its entire flat main body surface at the same time as the blade is expelled from said magazine.

17. In a safety razor a hollow handle with a clamp cover thereon, a shank rotatably and slidably mounted in said handle, a blade seat rotatably mounted on said shank, a spring in said handle urging the shank to releasably hold said blade seat adjacent said cover, said shank and hollow handle having guide groovesand pins engaging with each other, said pins acting to retain the blade seat away from the clamp cover against the action of the spring when drawn out oiand turned beyond the limits of the grooves in said hollow handle.

18. In a safety razor employing ablade, a hollow handle with a clamp cover thereon, a shank rotatably and slidably mounted in said handle, a blade seat rotatably mounted on one end of said shank, said shank having a taper on its other end and a threaded portion on the base 01 said taper, and engaging in a male and female relationship in a corresponding tapered bore and thread in said hollow handle.

19. In a safety razor, a magazine and a plurality of separate blades housed therein, a clamp cover, a blade seat and a guard, means for ejecting a blade from said magazine, a single control means for moving said seat into alignment with said magazine and for simultaneously uncovering the blades in said magazine so that the top blade therein is accessible and is ejected from said magazine onto said seat, said single control means being adapted to close said magazine, after the blade is ejected therefrom, and to move said seat back to the shaving position with a blade thereon,

WILLIAM F. STEINMETZ. SOL ROTHSCHILD. 

